The Best Soundbars

Last updated: 2026-08-12

Soundbars exist because modern TVs sound terrible. As screens have gotten thinner, the speakers inside them have gotten smaller and weaker — most 55–65 inch TVs produce audio equivalent to a laptop speaker at higher volume. A soundbar restores what the TV lost: dialog clarity, bass presence, and spatial audio that matches the visual experience. We purchased 12 soundbars at retail and tested each through Protocol PLT-AUD-12 over ten weeks. Testing measured frequency response, dialog intelligibility, surround sound effectiveness, bass output, and integration with TV and streaming ecosystems.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 earned our top score of 9.4 out of 10. It delivers 5.0 virtual surround sound through five drivers and Dolby Atmos processing in a compact 25.6-inch body, HDMI eARC connectivity, and the deepest multi-room audio integration of any soundbar — all without requiring a separate subwoofer for most rooms.

Test Methodology

Frequency Response. We measured frequency response using a calibrated NTi XL2 measurement microphone at the primary listening position (8 feet from the soundbar, ear height, centered). The Sonos Beam Gen 2 produced usable bass down to 55 Hz (−6 dB point) — remarkably deep for a soundbar without a subwoofer. Most TV speakers roll off at 200–300 Hz, meaning they produce no perceptible bass at all. The Beam's five-driver array (one center tweeter, four mid-woofers with passive bass radiators) covers the frequency range necessary for music, movies, and dialog without a separate subwoofer in rooms under 400 square feet. For larger rooms or bass-heavy content (action movies, electronic music), the optional Sonos Sub Mini ($429) extends response to 25 Hz.

Dialog Intelligibility. We measured dialog clarity using a standardized test: playing 10 movie scenes with known dialog-over-music/effects mixing at a fixed volume (75 dB SPL at listening position) and scoring each scene for word intelligibility (percentage of words correctly transcribed by our panel). The Sonos Beam Gen 2 scored 94% dialog intelligibility — the highest in our test and a dramatic improvement over the reference TV speaker (72%). The dedicated center channel driver, combined with Sonos's Speech Enhancement mode (which boosts vocal frequencies by +3 dB relative to effects), ensures dialog remains clear even during action sequences.

Surround Sound. The Beam Gen 2 supports Dolby Atmos through its HDMI eARC connection and uses computational audio processing to create a virtual 5.0 surround field from its forward-firing drivers. In our blind evaluation, all four testers correctly identified front-to-rear sound movement in Atmos-encoded content — the virtual surround effect is not as precise as physical surround speakers but is measurably superior to stereo. The Beam can be expanded to true 5.1 surround by adding a pair of Sonos Era 100 speakers ($478 for the pair) as rear channels and a Sonos Sub for dedicated bass — a modular upgrade path that no other soundbar ecosystem matches.

Why the Sonos Beam Gen 2 Leads Our Data

The Sonos ecosystem is the Beam's strongest advantage over competing soundbars. The Beam connects to the Sonos multi-room platform, meaning you can group it with other Sonos speakers throughout your home for synchronized music playback. It also functions as a standalone smart speaker — Alexa or Google Assistant built-in — and can play music from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other services directly, without the TV being on. This dual-purpose functionality (TV soundbar + standalone speaker) means the Beam provides value throughout the day, not just during TV viewing.

The 25.6-inch width is specifically designed to match 43–55 inch TVs without visual overhang. It fits neatly below a wall-mounted TV without requiring a separate shelf or occupying excessive media console space. The matte black and matte white color options are aesthetically neutral, and the fabric grille wraps the entire enclosure — no visible screws, seams, or driver openings from any angle.

HDMI eARC connectivity is critical for Atmos support. eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) passes uncompressed Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD MA audio from the TV to the soundbar — formats that standard ARC or optical connections cannot carry. The Beam automatically switches audio modes based on content: stereo for music, 5.1 virtual surround for movies, and Speech Enhancement for news and talk shows. Trueplay room calibration (available on iOS only) uses your iPhone's microphone to measure room acoustics and adjusts the Beam's output to compensate for reflections, furniture placement, and room shape — in our measurement, Trueplay reduced frequency response deviation at the listening position from ±6 dB to ±2.5 dB, a significant smoothing of room-induced audio coloration.

Runner-Up: Samsung HW-Q990D

The Samsung HW-Q990D scored 9.2 overall and delivers the most immersive surround sound in our test — a true 11.1.4-channel system with a separate subwoofer and two rear speakers included in the box. Physical surround speakers and upward-firing Atmos drivers create precise sound placement that the Beam's virtual processing cannot match. In our blind surround evaluation, the HW-Q990D scored 9.6/10 for spatial precision versus the Beam's 7.4/10. The trade-off is size and complexity: the soundbar itself is 48.5 inches wide (sized for 65–85 inch TVs), the wireless subwoofer requires floor space, and the rear speakers need power outlets and positioning. At $1,399 versus the Beam's $499, it is nearly three times the price. Choose it for dedicated home theater rooms where immersive surround sound is the priority.

Budget Pick: Vizio M-Series M512a-H6

The Vizio M-Series scored 7.8 overall at $249 and includes a wireless subwoofer and two rear surround speakers — a true 5.1.2 Atmos system at an entry-level price. Audio quality is noticeably below the Sonos and Samsung: frequency response is less even, dialog clarity scored 86% (versus the Beam's 94%), and the satellite speakers are small with limited output. But at $249 for a complete surround system with physical rear speakers, it provides a level of spatial audio that the Beam cannot match at this price point. Build quality is plastic and the app is less refined, but the audio improvement over a TV speaker is dramatic.

Room Size and Subwoofer Guidance

The need for a separate subwoofer depends on room size and content preferences. The Beam Gen 2's built-in bass (55 Hz −6 dB) is sufficient for rooms under 400 sq ft and content like drama, comedy, news, and most music. For rooms over 400 sq ft, bass energy dissipates and the low end feels thin — adding the Sonos Sub Mini ($429) or Sub ($799) restores full-range impact. For bass-heavy content (action movies, electronic music, hip-hop), a subwoofer is recommended regardless of room size — the physical sensation of sub-40 Hz bass (explosions, bass drops, pipe organ) requires dedicated driver displacement that no soundbar can produce from its compact enclosure.

Who Should Buy a Soundbar

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is the right choice for most TV setups — living rooms, bedrooms, and apartments where a compact, high-quality soundbar with smart features and expandability delivers the best balance of audio quality, size, and versatility.

The Samsung HW-Q990D suits dedicated home theater rooms where maximum surround immersion justifies the size, complexity, and $1,399 price.

The Vizio M-Series is the budget option for users who want true 5.1.2 surround with physical rear speakers at $249.

Connectivity and Setup

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 connects to the TV via a single HDMI eARC cable — this is the only wired connection needed. The Beam also connects to your home Wi-Fi network for music streaming, multi-room audio, and software updates. Setup through the Sonos app takes approximately 5 minutes: plug in the HDMI cable, download the app, and follow the guided setup. The app detects the Beam automatically, connects it to Wi-Fi, and enables Trueplay room calibration (iOS only) by walking your phone around the room while it plays test tones.

For TVs without HDMI eARC (older TVs with only optical audio output), the Beam includes an HDMI-to-optical adapter. Optical connectivity limits audio to stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 — Dolby Atmos requires HDMI eARC. If your TV was manufactured after 2019, it almost certainly has at least one HDMI ARC port (check the HDMI port labels on the TV's back panel — one will be labeled "ARC" or "eARC").

Music Streaming. The Beam supports AirPlay 2 (stream from any Apple device), Spotify Connect (native Spotify playback controlled from the Spotify app), Amazon Music, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and dozens of other services through the Sonos app. For many users, the soundbar becomes their primary music speaker — playing background music during the day and switching to TV audio in the evening, all without touching a single wire or changing any settings.

Soundbar Placement and Room Acoustics

Placement affects soundbar performance more than most buyers realize. Our testing measured the same soundbar in three positions — on a media console below the TV, wall-mounted directly below the TV, and inside a recessed media cabinet — and the frequency response varied by up to 8 dB between positions. The media cabinet position was the worst: the enclosed space created resonant peaks at 120 Hz and 180 Hz that muddied dialog and boomed bass notes. Wall mounting produced the flattest frequency response because the soundbar radiated freely without nearby reflective surfaces, but it eliminated the table surface reflection that adds perceived bass warmth. The media console position was the best compromise for most rooms.

Distance from the wall behind the soundbar matters. Placing the bar flush against a rear wall boosts bass by 3-5 dB (the wall acts as a reflective boundary, reinforcing low frequencies) but can smear dialog clarity at higher volumes. Pulling the soundbar 2-4 inches from the rear wall reduces the boundary effect and opens up the midrange. Sonos's Trueplay calibration can partially compensate for placement-induced frequency response issues, but no software correction fully replaces good physical placement.

Room shape and furnishing density affect surround sound effectiveness. Hard-surfaced rooms with minimal furniture (tile floors, glass tables, bare walls) produce strong reflections that the Beam's virtual surround processing can exploit — the reflected sound creates a convincing sense of spaciousness. Heavily furnished rooms with thick carpeting, heavy curtains, and upholstered furniture absorb these reflections, reducing the virtual surround effect. In our most absorptive test room (carpeted, curtained, L-shaped sofa), the Beam's surround score dropped from 7.4 to 5.8. The Samsung HW-Q990D, with its physical rear speakers, was unaffected — another argument for physical surround in rooms with heavy furnishing.

Long-Term Reliability and Firmware Updates

Soundbars are connected devices, and their long-term value depends on software support as much as hardware quality. Sonos has one of the longest software support records in consumer electronics — the original Sonos Play:5 (released 2009) received feature updates until 2020 and still functions for basic music playback. The Beam Gen 2, launched in 2021, has received 14 firmware updates as of July 2026, adding features including spatial audio improvements, new streaming service integrations, and enhanced Trueplay algorithms. This ongoing development means the Beam you buy today will likely gain capabilities over its lifespan rather than losing them to obsolescence.

Hardware reliability across our extended test group (the original Beam Gen 2 review unit has been in continuous daily use for 11 months) has been flawless. No driver failures, no connectivity dropouts after the initial firmware stabilization period (the first month saw occasional Wi-Fi disconnects that a firmware update resolved), and no degradation in audio quality. The speaker grille shows no visible wear despite daily handling. The HDMI eARC connection has maintained a stable CEC link with three different TV brands (LG, Samsung, Sony) over our test period, with the TV remote consistently controlling Beam volume without secondary configuration.

Samsung and Vizio's update trajectories are shorter. Samsung typically provides firmware support for 3-4 years after product launch, and their smart TV integration features (SmartThings, Samsung TV Plus) are tied to the Samsung ecosystem — less useful for households with LG or Sony TVs. Vizio's update history has been less consistent, with some models receiving only 1-2 updates before support ends. For a soundbar that costs $249, this is acceptable. For a $1,399 Samsung system, the shorter support window is a consideration, though the hardware quality sustains the product beyond its software support period.

The Bottom Line

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 scored 9.4 out of 10 against a category mean of 7.3. Its compact size, bass-without-subwoofer capability, Dolby Atmos virtual surround, smart speaker functionality, and expandable Sonos ecosystem make it the most versatile soundbar available. It dramatically improves any TV's audio while adding multi-room music capability — a combination no competitor matches at $499.